Thankfully, there's no need to break the bank to eat well in San Francisco. Some of the Bay Area's top restaurants are also the biggest bargains in town - be it Asian street food from Michelin-starred chef James Syhabout, or the red-hot Mission Chinese Food from Danny Bowien, the James Beard Foundation's reigning Rising Star chef. Everything from juicy Southern fried chicken to fantastic falafel can be had for well under $10, as long as you know where to go. Here are 10 spots that will fill your tummy while being light on the wallet.

Frisco Fried

We admit it: A certain buzz runs through the Food & Wine section whenever one of us hops into the car for a trip down Third Street for the Banks' fried chicken. Call about 20 minutes ahead to make sure your order is properly crisp and hot from the fryer when you arrive. And don't miss the tangy side order of greens.

Hawker Fare

This casual offshoot from Commis chef/owner James Syhabout celebrates the street food of Southeast Asia, with appetizers and rice bowls under $10. The cooks don't hold back on the shrimp paste or fish sauce, so flavors are pungent and vibrant, complemented by inventive drinks like iced tea with chrysanthemum flowers and a custom-brewed "Supafly" Rice Lager from nearby Linden Street Brewery.

Homeroom

The ultimate in nostalgia, this sit-down restaurant is dedicated to macaroni and cheese, with a menu full of variations, add-ons and suggested wine and beer pairings. There's also vegan mac, sides of veggies and plenty of non-mac options for lunch and brunch.

La Palma Mexicatessen

Handmade tortillas from in-house ground corn are the stars here, but the prepared foods are a fantastic deal and give you a chance to try the fresh masa in action. Plates featuring a serving of rotisserie chicken or chile verde with rice, beans and tortillas are only $6 to $7. On warm days, you can sit outside; otherwise, it's all to go.

Mission Chinese Food

Danny Bowien keeps the prices of his "American-Oriental" cuisine low at this crazy-popular dive inside Lung Shan Restaurant. You may have to sit elbow-to-elbow at a communal table, but most people don't mind amid plates of vibrantly spiced kung pao pastrami, sizzling cumin lamb and salt cod fried rice.

Sunrise Deli and Cafe

This year's arrival of Sunrise's food truck means an even farther reach for perfectly fried falafels. Enjoy them in the Super Falafel, amended with eggplant strips and served in lavash, or atop a vegetarian combo with baba ghanoush. Or just pick up a hot half-dozen to take home.

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Vitals: 2115 Irving St. (near 22nd Avenue), San Francisco; (415) 664-8210. www.sunrisedeli.net. Also at 54 Second St. and 89 Belden Place in San Francisco, 2456 Bancroft Way in Berkeley. Lunch and dinner daily. No alcohol.

Tony's Coal- Fired Pizza and Slice House

Skip the agonizing wait at Tony's Pizza Napoletana by heading to the takeout joint next door, where you'll find Tony Gemignani's perfectly crisp and chewy pies by the slice, square and whole. The calzones are excellent.

Trueburger

Quality house-ground meat, egg buns that don't get soggy and a smear of aioli - all marks of a solid burger. There's also hot dogs, salads, fries and milkshakes, and vegetarians won't miss out on the fun with the crispy portobello burger, stuffed with smoked mozzarella.

This bright, warehouse-like space is always abuzz with people ordering at the cash registers and names being called over the loudspeaker to pick up their masala dosa, minced lamb-stuffed baida roti and vegetable pakoras. Cuisine: Indian